In the late summer of 2017, the life of 34-year-old Curtis A. Richardson was brought to an abrupt and violent end in Portsmouth, Virginia. On the evening of August 18th, Richardson was outside the Essex Food Store on High Street when a vehicle pulled up. A man exited the car, approached Richardson, and shot him. Richardson succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
The investigation into the shooting quickly led authorities to identify a suspect, Stanlee S. Jones. A warrant for his arrest was issued, and a search for him began. The U.S. Marshals Service apprehended Jones in Newark, New Jersey, on August 31st. He was subsequently extradited back to Portsmouth on September 15th to face charges for Richardson's death and was held in the Portsmouth City Jail.
During the legal proceedings, the prosecution presented surveillance footage of the incident, describing the act as a 'cold-blooded public execution.' Jones was charged with first-degree murder and two firearm offenses. The defense, however, put forth a different narrative, arguing that the killing was an act of self-defense. They claimed that Richardson had a reputation for violence and had allegedly shot Jones during an attempted robbery eleven months prior to the fatal encounter. The trial brought to light the complexities of the case, with the defense attempting to introduce evidence of Richardson's past to support their claim. However, the judge ruled that a self-defense argument was only viable if it could be proven that Richardson posed an immediate threat on the day of the shooting. The case drew considerable attention from the community, with Richardson's family remembering him as a good person who tried to avoid trouble.
